Objective: The aim of this case control study was to evaluate which cephalometric variables related to craniofacial morphology discriminate between snoring and non-snoring or any other respiratory disease subjects.
Materials and methods: Total 42(21 snoring and 21 non-snoring) cephalometric measurements were determined to study the craniofacial morphology. Non-snoring subjects were matched to snoring subjects by age, sex, and body mass index. Snoring was assessed using a sleep behavior questionnaire administered to the patients. The cephalometric radiographs of the study subjects were traced by a single investigator, and 1 angular measurement and 13 linear measurements of hard and soft tissues were recorded. The paired Student's t test was used to analyze the cephalometric data.
Results: Vertical position of the hyoid (MP-H) was significantly longer (P<0.05) in snoring subjects (23.44±14.892mm) than non-snoring subjects (12.89±4.540mm). Anterior overbite and anterior over-jet of snoring group ((4.81± 3.265 and 5.83±8.59) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than non-snoring group (0.67±1.441 and 0.54±1.138). No significant differences of the other [11] cephalometric variables were found within groups.
Conclusion: Snoring subjects appear to present craniofacial factors that differ from those of non-snoring subjects, and we suggest obtaining cephalogram for diagnosis and following up of them.
Keywords: cephalometry; craniofacial morphology; snoring.